The BJP’s plans to strengthen its engagement with Gen Z have drawn a sarcastic response from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with its chief spokesperson Saurav Das taking aim at the party’s newly constituted outreach team.
Reacting to the BJP’s decision to launch a dedicated Gen Z Outreach Programme, Das posted on X: “Three claps to the BJP for a marvellous set of ‘Gen Z faces’.”
The BJP constituted a national team on Saturday to spearhead its planned outreach initiative, which is aimed at establishing a stronger connection with younger voters across the country.
Saurav Das targets BJP leadership
Das particularly criticised BJP national president Nitin Nabin, referring to remarks he claimed Nabin had previously made about the younger generation.
“Wonderful decision by the BJP on ‘reaching out’ to the Gen Z,” Das wrote, while questioning the party’s approach towards young people.
He also targeted former Union minister Smriti Irani, raising questions about her political record and education-related controversies.
Das’s comments come amid heightened political efforts to engage younger voters, with the BJP expected to organise discussions and interactions aimed at understanding Gen Z’s concerns, aspirations and expectations.
What is BJP’s Gen Z outreach programme?
The BJP’s new initiative is designed to create a more direct channel between the party and young voters. The programme is expected to include discussions, interactions and other activities through which young people can share their views on issues affecting them.
At the first introductory meeting of the newly constituted national team, Nitin Nabin urged party office-bearers to prioritise “Yuva Samvad”, or continuous dialogue with young people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met the newly appointed team at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.
The 65-member team announced on August 17 includes 51 new faces. Several prominent leaders, including Smriti Irani and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, have also been assigned responsibilities.
BJP looks to strengthen connect with young voters
The outreach comes as the BJP seeks to expand its engagement with Gen Z voters and better understand their expectations.
With assembly elections approaching in several major states, youth engagement is likely to remain an important part of political outreach strategies.
While the BJP has positioned the initiative as an effort to establish sustained dialogue with younger citizens, CJP’s criticism adds a political dimension to the campaign, with Das questioning whether the party’s chosen representatives can genuinely connect with Gen Z.
The exchange highlights the growing importance of young voters in India’s political landscape, where parties are increasingly using social media and direct engagement to reach a generation that consumes much of its political information online.
